Broken Boulder one's her petty vogue ideals

The first wolf to greet her was one she was, genuinely, looking forward to seeing. She raced toward him just as eagerly, mouth wide in a grin. "Khali!" she exclaimed, touching her nose against his cheek briefly before pulling back, beaming. "How are you? How is everyone?" It was an innocent enough question, but a shrewd observer could find the worry beneath the words.

After all, only Khali had come thus far. Where were everyone else? Ali, Delight, Seabreeze. . . There was a chilling, lonely atmosphere to the place. It had crept up on them slowly, and now it was here; her absence and subsequent return made it all the more apparent. The willows would give them the fresh start they needed, but for now. . .they must endure this.